Dozens of teens rush Oakland BART train, rob passengers

A mob of dozens of teenagers too just seconds to storm a BART train, stealing bags and phones and even punching passengers. (KGO-TV)

KGO

by Kate Larsen

Monday, April 24, 2017

OAKLAND, Calif. (KGO) --

A mob of dozens of teenagers took just seconds to storm a BART train, stealing bags and phones and even punching passengers.

BART says they have a problem with people stealing cellphones from passengers on trains, but never with a group this large. Right now, BART police are working with Oakland PD, the Housing Authority and Oakland school police to try to identify this group.

On Saturday at 9:30 p.m., when the doors opened to a Dublin-bound train at the Oakland Coliseum Station, 40 to 60 juveniles allegedly rushed out onto the train to rob the passengers.

"We had five cellphones stolen, one duffel bag and one purse. I do know that two people were punched in the face," BART spokesperson Alicia Trost said.

Trost says the group hopped the fare gates and after the attack, left the station before BART police officers arrived five minutes later.

BART says there was a sergeant and an officer at the Coliseum Saturday night. At the time of the incident, they were doing robbery suppression patrol in the back parking lot and responded to the concourse when the call came in, according to Trost.

BART says 6 of 9 cars on train in question have working cameras. BART has said ALL train cars will have working cams by July 1 pic.twitter.com/eZgoiTbTxR